Adjustable toilet tank and base

ABSTRACT

An adjustable two-piece toilet comprises a tank and a base having a tank mounting platform. The tank mounting platform is provided with a water inlet slot and at least two fastener slots. The tank is provided with a water outlet sized and shaped to fit the water inlet slot and at least two fastener holes. The tank is operatively connectable to the base by fasteners installed in the fastener holes and fastener slots such that the tank is infinitely adjustable relative to the base between a forward position and a rearward position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to two-piece toilets having a tank and a base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In installation of plumbing for toilets, in order to properly mate withstandard toilet bowl fixtures, it is conventional to locate thedrainpipe receiving the discharge of the toilet a specific distance froma wall adjacent to which the toilet is installed. In particular, it isconventional to position the center of the drainpipe twelve inches froma wall against which the toilet is to be installed. The distance of thecenter of the drainpipe from the wall is typically referred to as thepipe “rough-in”. While a 12 inch rough-in is most common, ten andfourteen inch rough-ins are also used. Consistent with this convention,toilets are designed such that when the discharge port is mated with thedrainpipe, a remainder of the toilet, including the tank, is locatedproperly relative to the adjacent wall. Thus, it is common to providedifferent toilet base models, each specifically designed for 10 inch, 12inch, and 14 inch rough-in's, respectively. Alternatively, as disclosedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,819,326 and 6,108,826, it is known to provide aconnector having an adjustable length to connect the discharge port andthe drainpipe inlet.

A need exists for an improved, inexpensive, and readily-installedtwo-piece toilet adapted to accommodate multiple drainpipe rough-insizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention is an adjustable two-piece toiletcomprising a tank and a base having a tank mounting platform. The tankmounting platform is provided with a water inlet slot and at least twofastener slots. The tank is provided with a water outlet sized andshaped to fit the water inlet slot and at least two fastener holes. Thetank is operatively connectable to the base by fasteners installed inthe fastener holes and fastener slots such that the tank is infinitelyadjustable relative to the base between a forward position and arearward position.

In a second aspect, the invention is an adjustable two-piece toiletcomprising a base and a tank, wherein the tank is operably connectableto the base in at least first, second, and third positions. In the firstposition, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of adrainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately ten inches. Inthe second position, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet ofa drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately twelve inches.In the third position, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inletof a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately fourteeninches.

The foregoing and other features of the invention and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent in light of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments, as illustrated in theaccompanying figures. As will be realized, the invention is capable ofmodifications in various respects, all without departing from theinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to beregarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in thedrawings a form of the invention which is presently preferred; it beingunderstood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of a two-piece toilet in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating a tankseparated from a base.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the two-piece toilet of FIG. 1 shown installedadjacent a wall and illustrating the tank operably connected to the basein first, second, and third positions.

FIG. 3 is top plan view of the base of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tank of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals are used to indicatelike elements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4 a preferredembodiment of a two-piece toilet 10 having a tank 40 which is adjustablymountable to a base 20. The toilet 10 is installed on a supportingsurface, such as a floor 12, typically adjacent a wall 14. The toilet 10has an outlet port (not shown) which connects to an inlet of a drainpipe(not shown). A center of the drainpipe is positioned at a rough-indimension from the wall 14. With particular reference to FIG. 2, a firstpreferred rough-in dimension R1 is ten inches, a second preferredrough-in dimension R2 is twelve inches, and a third preferred rough-indimension R3 is fourteen inches. Other dimensions, of course, arepossible. The base 20 and tank 40 are fabricated from conventionalmaterials using conventional fabrication techniques.

The base 20 includes a bowl 22 surrounded by a rim 24 in a conventionalmanner. Adjacent the rim 24 is a tank mounting platform 26. Seatmounting holes 28 are preferably provided in the platform 26, as are awater inlet 30 and at least two tank fastener slots 32. The water inlet30 is formed as a slot, and is sized and shaped to mate with a downspout42 that depends down from the bottom of the tank 40. The downspout 42defines an outlet hole 44 in the bottom of the tank 40 for channelingwater from the tank 40 into the base 20.

The tank 40 includes the outlet hole 44 and at least two tank fastenerholes 46. Screws 48 or other conventional fastening devices are insertedinto the holes so as to depend downward form the tank 40 as shown inFIG. 1. The screws are located so as to slide into the slots 32 in thebase 20. A bolt or wing nut 50 is used to secure the screws 48 (and thusthe tank) to the base 20.

When the toilet 10 is being installed, the base 20 will be mated with aconventional drainage plumbing and connected to the floor 12 in aconventional manner. In order to accommodate adjustment of the tank 40relative to the base 20, while at the same time preventing leakage, aseal or gasket 52 is preferably installed between the tank 40 and thebase 20. The seal 52 is made from conventional sealing materials, suchas cork, silicone or rubber. The seal 52 includes an opening 54, whichis preferably in the shape of an elongated slot, however other shapesare also possible, including circular. In the illustrated embodiment,the seal itself is rectangular in shape, however, again, other shapesare possible.

Although the illustrated embodiment includes a seal 54, it iscontemplated that if the downspout 42 has a sufficient length to extendinto the slot 20, the seal could be eliminated.

With the base 20 properly connected to the drainpipe and secured to thefloor 12, the installer will proceed to position the tank 40 near thewall 14, sliding the tank 40 relative to the base 20 along the tankmounting platform 26. In particular, the tank outlet 42 can preferablybe mated with the water inlet 30 in an infinitely adjustable manner overa length of travel L1. Preferably, the length of travel is at least 4inches. With this preferred length of travel L1, the tank 40 can besecured to the base 20 is a rearward position 50, wherein the toilet 10is adapted to interface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-indimension R1 of approximately ten inches, or in an intermediate position52, wherein the toilet 10 is adapted to interface with an inlet of adrainpipe having a rough-in dimension R2 of approximately twelve inches,or in a forward position R3, wherein the toilet 10 is adapted tointerface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension ofapproximately fourteen inches.

From this disclosure, the person of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the base fastener slots 32 could be replaced with threesets of holes adapted to receive fasteners extending from the tank holes44. In this alternative arrangement, the tank 40 would not be infinitelyadjustable between the rearward position 50 and the forward position 54,but would rather be capable of being positioned relative to the base 20in discrete first, second, and third positions, 60, 62, and 64,respectively.

With the tank 40 properly positioned near the wall 14, the installer canproceed to secure the tank 40 to the base 20 by tightening fasteners(not shown) extending through the tank fastener holes 44 and through thebase fastener slots 32. The remaining elements of the toilet 10 (forexample, a flush valve assembly (not shown)) are conventional, and areinstalled in a conventional manner.

The two-piece toilet 10 is readily-installed and provides an inexpensivesolution to the problem of accommodating multiple drainpipe rough-insizes. The tank and base can me made of any conventional material,including porcelain.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto the exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes,omissions and additions may be made therein and thereto, without partingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly,reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to theforegoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.

1. An adjustable two-piece toilet comprising a base and a tank, whereinthe tank is operably connectable to the base in at least first, second,and third positions.
 2. The adjustable two-piece toilet of claim 1,wherein: in the first position, the toilet is adapted to interface withan inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximately teninches, in the second position, the toilet is adapted to interface withan inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension of approximatelytwelve inches; and in the third position, the toilet is adapted tointerface with an inlet of a drainpipe having a rough-in dimension ofapproximately fourteen inches.
 3. The adjustable two-piece toilet ofclaim 1, wherein the connection between the tank and the base permitsinfinite adjustment between a forward position and a rearward position.4. The adjustable two-piece toilet of claim 1, wherein the water outletis defined by a downspout that depends from the bottom of the tank, thedownspout sized to fit within the water inlet slot.
 5. The adjustabletwo-piece toilet of claim 4, further comprising a seal located betweenthe tank and the base, the seal having a slotted opening substantiallythe same size as the water inlet slot in the base.
 6. An adjustabletwo-piece toilet comprising: a base having tank mounting platformprovided with a water inlet slot and at least two fastener slots; and atank having at least two fastener holes and a water outlet sized andshaped to fit the water inlet slot, wherein the tank is operativelyconnectable to the base by fasteners installed in the fastener holes andfastener slots such that the tank is adjustable relative to the basebetween a forward position and a rearward position.
 7. The adjustabletwo-piece toilet of claim 6, wherein the fastener slots and water inletslot are configured such that there is at least four inches of travelbetween the forward position and the rearward position.
 8. Theadjustable two-piece toilet of claim 7, wherein: in the rearwardposition, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of adrainpipe having a rough-in dimension of ten inches, in an intermediateposition, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of adrainpipe having a rough-in dimension of twelve inches; and in theforward position, the toilet is adapted to interface with an inlet of adrainpipe having a rough-in dimension of fourteen inches.
 9. Theadjustable two-piece toilet of claim 6, wherein the connection betweenthe tank and the base permits infinite adjustment between a forwardposition and a rearward position.
 10. The adjustable two-piece toilet ofclaim 6, wherein the water outlet is defined by a downspout that dependsfrom the bottom of the tank, the downspout sized to fit within the waterinlet slot.
 11. The adjustable two-piece toilet of claim 10, furthercomprising a seal located between the tank and the base.
 12. Theadjustable two-piece toilet of claim 11, wherein the slotted opening inthe seal is substantially the same size and shape as the water inletslot in the base.
 13. An adjustable two-piece toilet comprising: a basehaving tank mounting platform provided with a water inlet slot and atleast two fastener slots; a tank having at least two fastener holes anda downspout that depends from the bottom of the tank, the downspoutsized to fit within the water inlet slot, the downspout defining a wateroutlet in the bottom of the tank; and a seal located between the tankand the base, the seal having a slotted opening substantially the samesize as the water inlet slot in the base; wherein the tank isoperatively connectable to the base by fasteners installed in thefastener holes and fastener slots such that the tank is infinitelyadjustable relative to the base between a forward position and arearward position.